The UCLA Division of Physical Sciences is grateful to announce a generous $5 million planned
gift from Patricia “Patty” Morrison, a commitment that will create a lasting legacy in the
Department of Mathematics while honoring the memory of her late husband, Edward “Ed”
Grebel.
Through Patty’s planned gift, two new funds will be established in the Department of
Mathematics: the Edward J. Grebel Endowed Term Chair and the Edward J. Grebel
Graduate Fellowship. Together, they will support both an emerging faculty member and
graduate students, helping strengthen the next generation of mathematicians at UCLA.
For Patty, the gift is deeply personal. Ed was a proud UCLA alumnus who earned his bachelor’s
degree in mathematics in 1972. He remained grateful for his UCLA education and the
opportunities it gave him throughout his life. Giving back to UCLA was something Ed had hoped
to do, and UCLA was the only charitable organization he had specifically mentioned supporting.
Ed and Patty were partners and best friends for decades. They did not have children and had
decided years ago that their beneficiaries would include charitable organizations. After Ed
passed away unexpectedly, Patty wanted to find a meaningful way to preserve his memory and
carry forward the values they shared.
The gift reflects what mattered to both of them: education, hard work, integrity, and giving back.
Patty also wanted the gift to have an impact on both faculty and students. The endowed term
chair will provide meaningful support to an emerging mathematics faculty member as they build
their career at UCLA, while the graduate fellowship will help students pursue their studies and
research.
“This gift is a meaningful reflection of Patty’s generosity and her love for Ed,” said Elena Arrojo,
Director of Gift Planning, who worked with Loida De Leon to bring the gift to fruition. “UCLA
Mathematics was an important part of Ed’s life, and Patty’s decision to honor that connection
will support faculty and students for years to come.”
This is Patty and Ed’s largest gift to UCLA and the largest gift ever made to the Department of
Mathematics. While the planned gift will be realized in the future through Patty’s estate, her
commitment today is already creating a meaningful legacy for UCLA Mathematics.
The Division of Physical Sciences is deeply grateful to Patty for her extraordinary generosity and for the trust she has placed in UCLA. Through her thoughtful gift, Ed’s connection to UCLA will live on—not only in the department he once called his own, but through the faculty and students who will carry mathematics forward.